The Deer Park in Staffordshire is a recently opened farm and coffee shop in the village of Hoar Cross. It’s my new favourite place to pick up something delicious for dinner and indulge is a homemade piece of cake. The farm owners have kindly opened up the woodland behind the farm shop meaning it’s also a great place for a walk in the Staffordshire Countryside.
The Prince family have been farming this land for over 50 years and now aim to provide an introduction to British farming whilst providing a welcoming place to enjoy the countryside. They sell their own outdoor farmed beef, lamb, milk and cheese produced on the farm. This is about as close to “farm to table” as it gets.
The Walk from the Deer Park, Staffordshire
Before you spend time in the shop, make sure you pull on some wellies and head into the woods for an energy boosting hike. There are several variations to this walk, the one we completed was around 3.5 miles but I’ll add some other options below.
Begin your hike in the Deer Park car park. It’s free so I recommend popping inside for a take out coffee and cake to give a bit back. Head out of the carpark towards the woods over a small stretch of field. Continue through the gate and follow the path. Keep an eye out for this sweet little bird on the tree stump to your right.
The trail is well sign posted and fairly obvious. Don’t wander off into the woods! It’s pretty rustic, these are new paths created recently so step carefully to ensure you don’t catch your feet and fall. Wellies or walking boots are also a good idea.
You’ll wind through the woods on a slightly downward gradient. Working your way through this part of the woods will take you around 15 minutes. Once you’ve reached the bottom you have a couple of options. Head back up right towards the carpark or continue down to a gate taking you out of the trees. It was an absolutely beautiful day when we visited so we chose to continue on.
Keeping the woodland to your left you’ll soon reach a small kissing gate. Head through and turn left following the road for a few minutes.
You’ll reach a few steps up to your left and another gate. This was another extension to our walk, which I want to include as it was so pretty, but we did have to retrace our steps here, you could easily leave it out.
Once you’re through the gate you’ll be heading back up the hill. We passed a farm to out left which was home to two very beautiful horses. They were pretty inquisitive and followed us all the way up. At the top of this field it’s over a stile and into the next field. Continue up here, making sure to be careful not to disturb the cattle. At the top we had to turn back as it was just too muddy but if you continue on you’ll eventually reach another stile bringing you out near the main entrance to the Deer Park.
So back down we went, through the gate and onto the road. Having walked this area many times this year we decided to extend the hike further and continued along the road towards the Meynell Ingram Arms, one of the best pubs in the area. Once you reach the Meynell turn left up the road which will be signposted to Hoar Cross. You’ll soon reach another stile in the hedgerow on your left. Cross through and hike across the fields. We kept the hedge to our left and following it all the way up to Hoar Cross church. You basically want to be heading up.
Exit the field over the stile opposite the church and turn left, again following a road for a short distance.
You’re nearly back now and will soon see the entrance to the Deer Park on your left.
Make sure you join the Marvellous Midlands Walks Facebook Group where you can share your favourite routes, photos and recommendations for walks in the Midlands. It’s also a great place to ask for recommendations and find inspiration for your next hike.
Jacksons Bank Variation
You can easily add more woodland to your walk from the Deer Park by heading to Jacksons Bank. Once you exit the Deer Park woods at the kissing gate, turn right instead of left and continue down the small track (not following the curve of the road to the right). You’ll reach a ford at the bottom of this, cross the bridge. You’ll see a track on your right, follow that and follow the signs to Kissing Gate Way. Keep going until you see a large field to your right. Continue straight till you get to the top of the field and exit back onto a road. then its back down the hill to the carpark at Jacksons Bank. They are are several walks through this area but you could try this easy circular walk at Jacksons Bank.
Deer Park Walk details
Length of Walk: Our route in total was around 3.5 miles. You can make this longer or shorter depending on how energetic you feel.
Walk Duration: This whole loop we took was around 1.5 hours. That’s with a slowish 10 year old and around a 20 minute re-route.
Walking from the Deer Park with Dogs: This is a lovely one to complete with dogs. Holly was able to run free in the woods and in some of the fields. Be very careful on the roads, they are super quiet but that does mean if you do see a car, it may be traveling fairly fast. Do not let your dogs off the lead unless you are sure there are no livestock around. This is farming country and dogs will spook livestock. Most of the gates and stiles on this walk were ok for dogs but we did have to lift Holly over a couple. It goes without saying, make sure you clean up after your dog at all times.
Facilities at the Deer Park: There are toilets at the Deer Park farm shop and a wonderful cafe with lovely outdoor seating area. Halfway round this route is the Meynell Pub. Currently closed until December, this is another great place to stop for a drink and use the facilities. They are very dog friendly.
How to get to the Deer Park, Staffordshire
The Deer Park farm shop is located in Hoar Cross easily reachable from the A50. Head to Yoxall and once you reach the Foresters Arms take the small lane on its side, down a hill. Once you reach a crossroads at the bottom, turn right towards Hoar Cross which is Makers Lane. Follow this for about a mile and the Deer Park will be on your right.
The Deer Park, Maker Lane, Hoar Cross, DE13 8QR
I’m always on the look out for great cafes to begin or end a walk so highly recommend this one from Fallow Forest, Cannock Chase. It’s a 3 mile loop with a gorgeous outdoor cafe around 20 minutes drive from the Deer Park.
If pubs are more your thing, have a look at this list of great pubs near Hoar Cross.
Or another favourite for a good take out coffee and an energetic walk is the Bracebridge in Sutton Park.
For another great walk in the area you could try this one at the Dunstall Estate in Barton Under Needwood. Or this Alrewas to Wychnor loop partly along the canal.
Make sure you pin for later to plan your visit to the Deer Park, Staffordshire.
